Pain around pacemaker site

Jimmy:

While 6-8 weeks after you can do "whatever you did before" you need to be careful when lifting the arms above the shoulder and the force used as that irritates the site and slows the healing.
I suspect the rounds of golf and the balls at the range might have been a bit too much too soon.

I'm not a golfer but I regularly train with weights. I waited 8 weeks or so and then began with fairly gentle whole body work without weights. Then I started slowly. My progress has been steady and I generally do "whatever I did before." I actually feel better and stronger and more confident than before. I occasionally get a bit of discomfort.

When I first started to recover I was discouraged because my pacemaker was put in Sept. 2022 at age 75. I thought my age and the procedure and time 'off' would prevent me from ever doing any meaningful (to me) lifting. Not so. I don't remember the exact progress timeline but by the end of year 1 I was happy with my progress. We (trainer and I) did a test of my 3 favourite lifts for my 77th birthday in June and I got a "high five" from everyone.

I worried and had anxiety a lot in the first months after the implant. I used the Metronic site (www.medtronic.ca/patientresources) and toll free line a few times. And this Mayo Forum.
Long story short: I am not a doctor nor a technician but I suspect the nurse is correct, muscles are unhappy. And yes, it does get better...much better. If not, keep calling the doctor or technician for advice.

Long story

I am 12 months out. I would continue to stretch and the discomfort should go away with time. I am very active as a 78 year old lifting and doing pushups every day. I did add a pad over the car shoulder strap. At my 12 months out appt, I described an unpleasant sensation when touching and/or rubbing over the PM, my EP changed the conductivity pattern and that went away.

Thank you so much for the support and reply. Let me start off with a high five. Ha, I hope I didn’t do any damage that is irreversible. That’s what worries me. The pain comes on at night when I lay down. Burning , stinging pinch sort of pain. If I sleep on my back the pain subsides. I also feel it when I do any upward motion on jaw. The pain is at the top of PM. When I touch it I feel it a little as well. When I shrug my shoulders I could feel it as well. I didn’t do anything for 6 and 1/2 weeks. I played a round of golf with no issue at all. Did some calisthenics shoulders and so on ,no weights. I am going to call Medtronic’s this week. See if it is an adjustment on PM. I thank you for you input.

Both you guys are an inspiration, I will not give up. I am active as well and want to continue with the active lifestyle I am accustomed to

Thanks for the high five! Just an aside...you mention sleeping position (side, I assume) generates pain but not on the back. Side-sleeping likely squashes the implant side. Stay on your back for sleeping.

I used to sleep on my back all the time. I love it BUT (there is always a but) I also have sleep apnea so I have had to learn to sleep on my right side. If it's not one thing it's another.

Your positive and determined attitude will serve you well.

you have never been to australian hospital with heart prob you wait in waiting room till your turn

Yes, the pain can be real. They place the pacemaker in a “ pectoral pocket”, I’d question them to address the cause of the pain. Could be a lead, could be prior injury, could mask heart issue. Who really knows for certain unless they take it seriously? It sounds like your doctor did not, and he is a jerk for abandoning your need, and helping you identify the cause.

She said she had it moved 2 times, this is the 3rd time. Assuming you aren’t doing some activity to aggravate the area. The area may have unusual sensitivity, prior broken ribs? Too close-to armpit? Bra strap, pulling? Sounds like it is irritating the surrounding tissue/area? Maybe old lady is smaller with thinner skin? You can get pads for bra straps to cushion the area if you haven’t already tried them.

Hello, is it possible you have a metal allergy? You can be tested for this but an easy way to know is if you have a reaction to metal in jewelry. I've a dear friend who discovered hers after her pacemaker implant. There are devices that are coated to prevent a reaction. Wishing you good health and a long and happy life

Hello to all,
My first battery was placed directly on a nerve. It caused physiologic changes. My underarm became so hollow that I could no longer shave. I could not lift my arm as high as my head or place it behind my back. The nerve was impinged and I was miserable the entire 10 years of that pacemaker battery. I was thin during placement,
so they scalloped out a good bit of muscle to seat the device. That placement made me miserable.
After 10 years I had my battery replaced, making sure to gain weight before hand. I asked them to seat the battery higher in the depth field, causing it to protrude a bit but who cares? I can lift my arm, and shave since the hollow is gone. The relief was great, as was the improved comfort. A happy ending!